El Gordo - Good People Brewing Company

hopjake

Alabama

4.76/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Had this three times at beer festivals in Birmingham. 13.9% ABV - not coincidentally the legal limit in AL.

Black motor oil with a dark tan head. Even during a humid 85 deg day it looks inviting. Smells of dark roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and a hint of booziness. In addition to the coffee and chocolate, you get some vanilla and dark fruit. More booze in the taste compared to the aroma. Strong malt backbone. Thick, chewy, and satisfying. Hope to have a full pint instead of the 3 oz festival servings sometime.

I agree with some other reviewers - its up there with Ten Fidy and the best RIS's around.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2013 14:29:40 | More by hopjake

Maddmartagan

4.68/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A great beer. Had it on tap at the Good People taproom in a snifter.

Beautiful pour. Pitch black with tan/coffee color head. Head dissipated into a thin ring and left some great legs, like wine.

Rich chocolate, vanilla, stone fruits, coffee, booze, with just a hint of raspberry in the nose.

Full-flavored. All the chocolate, fruits, and raspberry are present with a little licorice. A little too much booze, but hey, it's almost 14%. Overall, very well incorporated.

Nice, big bodied stout. Sticks to the tongue.

Really tasty beer. Wish it was available in bottles so I could sit on one. Or maybe some special versions like Vanilla, Coffee, or Bourbon-aged.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2012 15:23:39 | More by Maddmartagan

Bonhoeffer

Alabama

4.78/5  rDev 0%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is one of the best stouts around. It absolutely hangs in elite company. I previously had small tastes of this at Magic City Brewfest, but an exceptionally rare keg made its way to the Clyde over the weekend. It's huge, deep, booming. Coffee, chocolate, dark fruit, molasses, booze, all kinds of stuff going on here.

It's not THE absolute best imperial stout I have ever put to my lips (thus not a perfect score) but it is damn close. Wish this would go in bottles so I could sock a handful away and see what it does over 5 or 10 years.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2011 19:49:08 | More by Bonhoeffer

jblair9471

Alabama

4.9/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had on-tap at 2011 Magic City Brewfest on 6-4-11

Appearance - Thick and very black with a nice brown head

Aroma - dark fruits, chocolate, and espresso

Taste - I got espresso and chocolate right off, with a hint of that 13.9% and i love it

Mouthfeel - thick and heavy, just how i like my stouts

Drinkability - When it is very drinkable on a sunny, 90 degree or so day, it would be perfect on a nice winter day.

Best RIS i have ever had, and i wait till they can it so i can buy it all.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2011 09:09:33 | More by jblair9471

sepharious

Alabama

4.9/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

If ever a more amazing beer were served at a more inappropriate time of year then I know not of it. El Gordo is a massive RIS which debuted at the 2010 Magic City Brewfest and came back in the sweltering heat for 2011's. While kolshes and saisons might be better suited for the weather, El Gordo *insists* that you pay attention to it and come back for seconds...and thirds. A dark fluid emanates from the tap coating the sides of the tasting glass like some Texas tea. The heady aromas of coffee, chocolate, and dark fruits exude forth. A taste reveals the unctuous, thick richness of a dark chocolate covered raspberry. One can almost grasp a glimpse of Nirvana and there are whispers of a heavenly chorus as the experience washes over your tastes buds and tickles your brain. Jason Malone needs to attempt to contain this dangerously quaffable beverage in some select barrels and sequester it away till winter time... I can only imagine how that could usher this beer to its true zenith.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2011 22:19:39 | More by sepharious

CaskBeerouac

Alabama

4.6/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had the "Fat Man" on tap at Magic City Brewfest.

Pours pitch black with nice, dark brown head. The head dissipated quickly, leaving behind some sticky oily residue, but not much lacing. Basically this beer is motor oil.

Great aroma. Raspberry, chocolate, coffee, hints of caramel and vanilla. Even though this is a big abv (just under 14%), the complex aroma all but hides the booze.

Very similar to the nose, with chocolate and coffee being the most dominant players. The raspberry so prevalent in the nose is a little more subdued and plays more of a support role with the vanilla. The booze isn't as incorporated quite as perfectly as in the nose. It rears its head a little in the finish, but still not overpowering.

This beer is as thick and full as they come. It feels very akin to Ten Fidy.

Love this brew. Even in the sun and 100 degree Alabama heat, this drinks pretty good.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2011 16:57:09 | More by CaskBeerouac

harpus

Alabama

5/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had this beer at the Birmingham Brewfest hosted by Free the Hops

Appearance - very black with a brown head

Smell - Dark fruits and Chocolate

Taste - Dark fruits, Chocolate, and a little portish

Drinkablility - Drank this on a hot Alabama day and it was still good. It would be great to have on a cold day.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2010 04:03:18 | More by harpus

StuartCarter

Alabama

4.85/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had this on tap at the Magic city Brewfest.

Appearance: black, black, black. No light coming through this one. Creamy brown head.

Smell: dark fruits - think plums, cherries, raisins.

Taste: follows through on the promise from the smell.

Mouthfeel: thick, viscous, but not syrupy.

Drinkability: even on a hot Alabama summer day, temp and humidity in the high 90s, I wanted more!

If you like big, chewy Imperial Stouts, El Gordo will put a big smile on your face.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2010 15:52:16 | More by StuartCarter

GPHarris

Alabama

4.85/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had some samples of this at the 4th Annual Magic City Brewfest in Birmingham, AL so I'll try to remember as best I can. Poured a heavy, inky black that smelled of dark fruits such as plums and cherries, port wine and chocolate. The taste was similar as the aroma and is one of the best RIS I've ever had. A delicious beer even on a hot Alabama day and I can't wait to try this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2010 15:04:22 | More by GPHarris